Dear Friends,
As summer unfolds, I wanted to pause for a moment to thank you for your part in making The Meetinghouse a place to gather, grow and flourish!
This spring and summer have brought new energy to our shared work. We launched our 250 for 250 Campaign, welcomed growing participation in our Circles of Belonging, and continue preparing for our inaugural Artists-in-Residence Studios beginning this fall. Our community garden is flourishing, reminding us that cultivating the land and cultivating community are deeply connected.
As part of Ridgefield’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, we planted an oak tree on our campus—a living symbol honoring both the Declaration of Independence and Connecticut’s historic Charter Oak, reminding us that the deepest roots of freedom are nurtured across generations.
Our gallery has welcomed Rori Shapiro’s inspiring exhibit celebrating Ridgefield’s historic buildings, inviting us to see our shared story with fresh eyes.
Throughout the week, our campus continues to come alive with wellness offerings, music for all ages, community conversations, worship, and the simple gift of neighbors gathering over coffee at The Market.
Increasingly, we are discovering that The Meetinghouse is becoming what we have long imagined: a true Sacred Commons—a place where people of every age and background gather to learn, create, celebrate, reflect, serve, and belong. Whether through art and music, gardens and wellness, worship and conversation, or acts of quiet hospitality, together we are preserving a remarkable historic campus while cultivating a flourishing community for generations to come.
One of the unexpected gifts of this season has been witnessing the extraordinary kindness of this community. Meals have appeared without asking. Cards, emails, prayers, visits, and words of encouragement have arrived at just the right moment. Volunteers have stepped forward. Leaders have assumed additional responsibilities. Together you have embodied the very vision we have been seeking to cultivate: one house, many rooms; one community bearing one another’s burdens.
Thank you for making that vision tangible.
As we look toward the fall, there is much to anticipate. We will welcome our first artists-in-residence, continue expanding opportunities for learning, wellness, music, and community life, deepen our Circles of Belonging, and continue imagining new ways this historic Meetinghouse can serve our neighbors for generations to come.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your presence, generosity, and prayers make this work possible.
With deep gratitude,
Deborah Rundlett
Director, The Meetinghouse
P.S. We’d love to welcome you to The Meetinghouse this summer. Stop by The Market for a cup of coffee, attend a concert, explore the gallery, enjoy a wellness offering, wander through the gardens, or simply spend a few quiet moments on this beautiful campus.
If you’d like to become part of this growing story, we invite you to join our 250 for 250 Campaign by becoming part of our Circle of Belonging. Together, we are preserving a historic Meetinghouse while cultivating a Sacred Commons for future generations. Members help sustain this shared place through their annual commitment and are welcomed to host family celebrations, milestone gatherings, community meetings, and other special occasions in our spaces through a host contribution that supports the hospitality, staffing, and care that make these gatherings possible.
To learn more about becoming part of the Circle of Belonging or about upcoming events, simply reply to this email or stop by The Market. We’d love to welcome you—and we’d love to tell you more.
